The problem with shark movies is that they peaked right out of the gate. Sure, there were shark movies before Jaws, but Spielberg’s 1975 classic brought sharks into the mainstream, and nothing since has quite matched its impact. Under Paris doesn’t entirely escape the looming influence of Jaws, but it makes a better attempt than most shark movie efforts in recent decades.

The French Netflix film, directed by Xavier Gens (Lupin), boasts a brilliantly simple premise: there’s a shark in the Seine. While it sounds like a joke, the film takes itself seriously. This isn’t Sharknado or even Deep Blue Sea. It’s a shark movie that proceeds as if no shark movies came before it, delivering intense set-pieces and memorable visuals with earnestness.

There’s a bit more depth than the premise suggests, just enough to give the characters some conflict. The antagonist is Lilith, a giant mako shark that has migrated from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to the Seine, evolving to reproduce via parthenogenesis. This adds elements of environmentalism and science fiction, along with a personal touch as the protagonist, scientist Sophia (Bérénice Bejo), lost her husband to a giant apex predator.

The film mostly centers on the thrill of sharks appearing in unexpected places, leading to some highly entertaining scenes. Paris is set to host a triathlon with a swimming segment in the Seine, and despite the evident danger, the mayor refuses to postpone the event, a nod to the classic trope of the stubborn Shark Movie Mayor.

Visually, the movie excels thanks to Gens and cinematographer Nicolas Massart, who create stunningly terrifying sequences using color, claustrophobic settings like the catacombs, and strong performances, especially from Bejo. Under Paris, the Seine has become an unlikely battleground between humans and a deadly predator.

While Bejo’s character isn’t the only one, she’s one of the few not destined to be shark bait. The Save Our Seas Collective activists and many police divers are expendable, but this isn’t a flaw; it’s expected in this genre. The plot of the film Under Paris revolves around a mutated shark wreaking havoc in the heart of the French capital.

Ultimately, Under Paris is a well-crafted shark movie. It’s goofy but not dumb, outrageous but not silly, violent but not overly gory, and serious without losing its fun factor. In 2024, it’s refreshing to see a shark movie that isn’t entirely focused on environmental messages but delivers thrilling shark action. Under Paris, the picturesque setting of Paris is starkly contrasted with the terror of a giant mako shark in the waterways.

‘Under Paris’ Ending Hints at a Chilling Sequel

Depending on your perspective, the ending of Under Paris, where an army of mutated mako sharks essentially takes over the world, might be seen as a happy one. Given the irreparable damage humanity has inflicted on marine life, it could be argued that it’s time for some payback.

Of course, I’m joking, and the environmental themes in the Netflix movie aren’t strong enough to make such a bold statement. However, they are present and play into a climax that subverts expectations by showing that it’s the humans, not the sharks, who have bitten off more than they can chew.

Why did Lilith end up in the Seine?

The shark in Under Paris is named Lilith and has a personal connection to our protagonist, marine scientist Sophia. Sophia and her team, including her husband, were trying to preserve sea life in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch when Lilith went berserk, killing Sophia’s husband and causing her to become disillusioned with the project.

Even then, Lilith was showing worrying signs of enormous growth. Three years later, Lilith has migrated to the freshwater Seine, having evolved the ability to survive there due to climate change and pollution.

Later, it’s revealed that Lilith has also adapted to reproduce via parthenogenesis – meaning she and her offspring can reproduce without a male. Soon, the number of giant, mutant makos will increase exponentially.

Activism gets eaten alive

Sophia faces two major obstacles in Under Paris. The first is the Parisian government. A triathlon, essential to France’s Olympics bid and very costly, is scheduled, so the mayor – very much a Shark Movie Mayor – refuses to acknowledge the shark threat.

The second issue is the youth-driven activist group Save Our Seas, led by Mika and her partner Ben. Mika is determined to save Lilith, but her idealistic efforts lead to her own death and that of several friends and fellow activists in the city’s catacombs after she broadcasted Lilith’s plight on social media.

In this fantastic sequence, Sophia discovers that Lilith has offspring. Later, she learns that even the offspring are pregnant, despite this being seemingly impossible according to established marine biology. Lilith has evolved into a new, adapted species of mako shark.

Sophia and Adil’s plan

With the mayor still refusing to take action – even publicly denouncing claims of sharks in the Seine to ensure the triathlon goes ahead – Sophia teams up with France’s most handsome police diver, Adil, to bomb Lilith’s nest.

This seems harsh, but given the parthenogenesis, it’s the only option – the sharks are breeding aggressively, and thanks to their genetic adaptations, they can live in unfavorable conditions. If not stopped, they will quickly take over the world’s oceans.

Under Paris Ending Explained – A Subversive Climax

Unusually for movies of this type, the ending of Under Paris doesn’t feature the heroes saving the day by taking out the nasty sharks once and for all. Instead, in a subversive twist, everything goes completely wrong and the sharks prevail.

Lilith and her offspring make it out into the Seine, which is full of swimmers, and start feasting on the locals. In the chaos, live shells go off in the water, destroying bridges and infrastructure, leading to mass flooding throughout Paris.

The movie ends with Paris underwater, Adil half-dead, and Sophia realizing the grim reality of their predicament. The end credits map shows how the sharks will spread worldwide, becoming the apex predator and potentially driving humanity to extinction by preventing access to any body of water.

If Mika had survived, she’d probably feel quite satisfied with herself.